There has been discussion on the Productivity Futures LinkedIn group this week discussing whether productivity and innovation are natural enemies or bedfellows. Of course I chimed in - well, I can't resist - and my view is that real productivity development - revolutionary rather than evolutionary - is unlikely without innovation. Innovation can transform productivity.
I have started this blog before with words such as ..."I read a survey the other day..." Sometimes reading the results of these 'business surveys' can be interesting .. but too often it seems the results are so obviously in favour of the organisation who commissioned the research. I read a survey the other day
Teams are sometimes more productive than the sum of their parts - because the 'chemistry' among the team is 'right'. We've all seen such 'chemistry' at work - in working teams and in personal relationships. But is it a lucky accident - or can we create it? Team building is not about taking teams on
Productivity is a 'neutral' measure - it doesn't come with praise or blame attached. To understand the reasons behind the figures we have to dig deeper, sometimes much deeper, than the headlines. For example, we might read that the construction industry has had a poor quarter in terms of measured productivity - but a scratch
We all need a bit of ‘me-time’ … when we forget about all the tasks we have on our To-Do list, forget all our work pressures, forget our commitments and concentrate on ourselves. ‘Me-time’ needn’t be long; it is the quality that matters. Well, of course the other thing that gives us real pleasure is ‘you-time’
I've been doing a lot of writing recently. I'm lucky - I find that words just come out - easily - in torrents. My problem is not writing; its marshalling my thoughts and turning the words into something readable and sensible. When I read back what I've written, I invariably think it is too long
What will lead you to higher productivity in 2015? New products, new technologies, new structures? For most organisations, the answer is none of these. Those that succeed in improving their productivity will do so by doing what they do now a little more effectively and/or efficiently. Big gains come from lots of small, incremental gains.
One of the long-standing friends of WCPS - Georg Kell - has sent us this letter. We thank Georg for his friendship and reassure him that WCPS remains committed to the ideals of the Global Compact. George Smith - who remains our principal point of contact with the UN - in
I read recently that Coca-Cola has withdrawn its voicemail system from its Atlanta headquarters in an effort to improve productivity. Callers now get a simple message suggesting they should use another means of contact. Voicemail was originally introduced as an 'added value' service for callers - saving them the need to call again - but
Most people are more effective workers in the morning - when fresh. As the day goes on, most of us tire. The problem is that we don't always recognise this - and we take decisions, do important work, hold important meetings when we are not at our best. Does this work for teams and organisations.